Relative routing priority for test requests

Abstract

Workflows for testing in automated laboratory environment are managed and controlled to permit prioritization and dependencies to be implemented for individual tests. Test groups can be specified to include analytical and non-analytical test requests. Instrument test status and/or sample location is used to determine whether workflow criteria is met. Each test can be assigned a completion criteria, which can foe used to retake other tests or operations contingent on the outcome of another test. Automation of the laboratory is enhanced with greater flexibility in controlling testing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for test implementation in a laboratory automation system (LAS), comprising:
 obtaining a test group that includes one or more tests to be run on instruments in the LAS, each of the one or more tests being associated with completion criteria;   dispatching at least one test from the test group to the LAS for execution;   obtaining status information for the at least one test related to processing of the at least one test by a component of the LAS;   comparing the status information to the completion criteria associated with the at least one test to determine if the completion criteria has been satisfied in accordance with the status information; and   identifying the at least one test as completed upon the completion criteria being satisfied.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, in accordance with priority information assigned to the one or more tests in the test group, a highest priority test included in the test group that has not been executed.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 dispatching the highest priority test to the LAS for execution.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 obtaining the status information from the LAS or a laboratory information system (LIS).   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 scheduling the at least one test for execution in accordance with relative priority of the at least one test compared to priorities of other tests included in the test group.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 dispatching at least another test included in the test group for execution upon the completion criteria for the at least one test being satisfied, wherein the at least another test has a lower relative priority than the at least one test.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one test is a non-analytical test. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a global parameter value to indicate how tests in the test group for which no priority is specified should be executed.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the global parameter value indicates that tests for which no priority is specified are to be executed before or after tests for which a priority is specified. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 including LAS parameter values to the LAS when the at least one test is dispatched to the LAS for execution to permit the LAS to manage the at least one test according to the LAS parameter values.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a relative priority of the test group such that a plurality of test groups can be scheduled for prioritized execution.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modifying the test group in accordance with an outcome of the at least one test identified as being completed.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 one or more of adding, reordering, omitting or changing a priority of a test in the test group in accordance with the outcome of the at least one test identified as being completed.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining another test group for execution after all the tests in the test group are identified as completed.   
     
     
         15 . A system for test implementation in a laboratory automation system (LAS), comprising:
 a processor coupled to a memory and operative to access and execute instructions in the memory to:   obtain a test group that includes one or more tests to be run on instruments in the LAS, each of the one or more tests being associated with completion criteria;   dispatch at least one test from the test group to the LAS for execution;   obtain status information for the at least one test related to processing of the at least one test by a component of the LAS;   compare the status information to the completion criteria associated with the at least one test to determine if the completion criteria has been satisfied in accordance with the status information; and   identify the at least one test as completed upon the completion criteria being satisfied.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 determine, in accordance with priority information assigned to the one or more tests in the test group, a highest priority test included in the test group that has not been executed.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 dispatch the highest priority test to the LAS for execution.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 schedule the at least one test for execution in accordance with relative priority of the at least one test compared to priorities of other tests included in the test group.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 dispatch at least another test included in the test group for execution upon the completion criteria for the at least one test being satisfied, wherein the at least another test has a lower relative priority than the at least one test.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one test is a non-analytical test. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 determine a relative priority of the test group such that a plurality of test groups can be scheduled for prioritized execution.   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 modify the test group in accordance with an outcome of the at least one test identified as being completed.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 one or more of adding, reordering, omitting or changing a priority of a test in the test group in accordance with the outcome of the at least one test identified as being completed.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 obtain another test group for execution after all the tests in the test group are identified as completed.   
     
     
         25 . A method for preparing tests for implementation in a laboratory automation system (LAS), comprising:
 specifying a test group that includes one or more tests to be run on instruments in the LAS;   assigning completion criteria to at least one test in the test group, the completion criteria being specific to the at least one test and execution of the at least one test;   assigning a priority to the at least one test in the test group, such that tests in the test group can be executed in order based on assigned priority.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 assigning a group priority for the test group such that test groups can be executed in order based on assigned group priority.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 creating at least one dependency for another test in the test group, such that treatment of the another test depends upon an outcome of the at least one test upon the completion criteria being satisfied.